Accidental Twins

While I was teaching today, my next door neighbor (classroom...not apartment...apartment neighbors, so far, appear to be drug dealers, previous students, scared of dogs, or taciturn) caught my eye with her waving. I looked outside of the room to see her pointing to her pants and top. We were accidental twins! And, let me tell you, she is the woman to match. I've never met a woman with a better shoe collection than her. She has this pair of cobalt blue J.Crew flats that I shamefully covet. If we wore the same size, I'd be raiding her shoe closet. Oh, and we share a love of pretty, on sale things. 

Craziest part of all? I was centimeters away from choosing my skinny cobalt pants to wear with boots! However, I knew the forecast called for 60 degree weather, and large classes of sophomore boys heat up a room. A hot room makes for sweaty calves. Sweaty calves make for an uncomfortable me. Uncomfortable me is no fun. So, these pants and wedges won. 

I realize that I look patriotic, and I'm okay with that. I was determined to wear both the scarf and the pants today. And a patriot was born.

(Note: The blur on her shirt is to cloak her identity. Obviously.)

The Outfit (mine, not hers, should've asked!):

Blazer: Marshall's

Pants: New York and Company

Wedges: Me Too via DSW (they are SO comfortable. I love Me Too. Haha, that sounds funny.)

Belt & T-shirt: Target

Scarf: Old Navy 

Oh, next Tuesday my colleagues (girls AND guys) and I are continuing our Trendy Tuesday tradition. If you'd like to join us, our theme is flannel and scarves. 

Interpret that however you wish!

Crazy Diet & An Outfit

I have a really bad habit of looking into other people's carts at the market. (Am I the only one who does this?) Most times, I'm overwhelmed by the irrational, inappropriate, judgmental desire to shake them for their dietary choices. I think, "cupcakes, potato chips, the entire soda aisle, everything with sugar in it, and all frozen meals? WHY, 'MURICA, WHY!?"

Maybe I'm a little bitter because here I am watching what I eat so carefully and spending more time than I have researching good-for-me foods and supplements, yet I'm fighting an epic battle with a body that wants to kick its own ass.

In better news, I'm on this sugar-free, mostly fruit-free (except for berries-no more than three cups a day though), yeast-free, and gluten-free diet right now. I bet your stomach just shed a tear for me, and you're probably asking me why this news is "better news." It's not so bad, honestly. I've been gluten-free for maybe five years now. That took a long time to accept, but cutting out gluten made it easier to control my will power. Plus, when I consider how much better I'll feel as a result, I can overcome dieting challenges.

So, why this diet? Well, during my endoscopy last week, the gastroenterologist found yeast invading my esophagus. Yeah, even the doctor said it was weird. The nutritionist told me, "I've only seen this problem in my cancer and AIDS patients." Leave it to my body to be unique. The doctor put me on Diflucan, which is supposed to combat the yeast. Since I know food is intertwined with a person's health, I did more research. (The doctor found the yeast several years ago, and it's either still here or back again. I realized I needed to take care of business. NOW.) In my Nutritional Healing book, it talks about candida, yeast that a person's body naturally produces. However, due to certain medications (especially antibiotics and birth control, both of which I've taken too much of in the past), underlying health conditions, and other factors, candida can overgrow in a person's body. (Thrush is an overgrowth of candida.) It can overgrow to the point that it causes a blood infection. Not good. It's responsible for a host of symptoms from PMS to anxiety. It mimics many diseases, which is why it goes undetected in so many people for so long. In fact, that is the very reason my doctors confused it with Celiac disease. Going off of gluten helped me because it started starving the yeast. Anyway, my Nutritional Healing book and other resources suggest a yeast-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free diet. I figured it was worth a shot.

About a week and a half ago, I started this diet in conjunction with the Diflucan. I figured, "What could it hurt?" Well, Mother Nature rolled around yesterday, and I hadn't even realized she showed up. (News Flash: this is a miracle.) I needed fewer Advil less often, and I didn't feel like I needed to constantly remain attached to a heating pad. (Typically, Mother Nature beats the snot out of me with a baseball bat the size of a tree trunk.) The only difference in my life is this new diet. If this new diet produces these results, then I'm even more open to sticking to it. Sure, I have my moments of insanity that involve wishing for a damn gluten-free cupcake, but I keep reminding myself how much better I feel.

I like to graze, which means I love snacks. Here are some snacks that I currently enjoy:
* cottage cheese
* sugar snap peas
* air popped popcorn
* veggies dipped in hummus
* corn chips dipped in guacamole
* fresh mozzarella
* salted almonds
* pistachios
* not a snack, but water gets old, so I drink Earl Gray (not a bitter tea)

OH, and I found a great recipe for yeast-free, gluten-free pizza that I'll share with you if you wish. Just let me know :) If you're on a similar diet and want to share some snack ideas, please do so!

Anyway, I'll show you my outfit because I know that's the reason you're really here.

I considered belting this shirt, but it was so comfortable as is. I decided to keep it loose. 

These flats were probably a terrible idea. After all, a monsoon hit us today. 

I hope this picture amuses you. 

Detail shot because I felt it was necessary. 

Outfit Deets:

Shirt: NY & Co.

Necklace: $5 at Francesca's (recent)--this necklace is fun

Cobalt skinnies: Celebrity Pink via Boscov's (exact)

Flats: $5 at Target (these capped toe shoes are cute)

Dog: My parents' house (he's a lovable little dude named Blue)

See some other lovely ladies over at The Pleated Poppy and Because Shanna Said So.

"Let's be twins next year!"

When one of my previous students saw me in these pants today, she exclaimed, "I have pants in that color, too! We can be twins. Let's be twins on twin day next year!" When a teenager wants to be twins with a teacher, that's good for said teacher's ego because it means she's still cool. And I am.

Of course, another student (male, obviously) came up to me and said, "You need eyedrops. You look tired." If that's not code for "you look like shit," then I'm not sure what is. Haggard, I tell you.

Today, a student asked me, "Can you please just wear sweatpants one day? You just look too cute every day." Really?

Excuse the bright eyes. 

Isn't my parents' front door adorable? I love the cheery yellow!

Look at the fun yellow flowers that match the front door :)

And then she made me pose with the creepy gnome tree. Thanks, Mom.

Scarf: Express (old)

Shirt: Target (bought it yesterday, actually)

Pants: Victoria's Secret (love them)

Wedges: Target

Cobalt blue was one of our wedding colors, and it's quickly become one of my favorite colors. :)